ot loudly, while darting his horse
into the crowd. "Plunge that Flanders cart-horse of yours into them,
Cadet, and do not spare their toes!"

Cadet's rough disposition chimed well with the Intendant's wish. "Come
on, Varin, and the rest of you," cried he, "give spur, and fight your
way through the rabble."

The whole troop plunged madly at the crowd, striking right and left with
their heavy hunting-whips. A violent scuffle ensued; many habitans were
ridden down, and some of the horsemen dismounted. The Intendant's
Gascon blood got furious: he struck heavily, right and left, and many a
bleeding tuque marked his track in the crowd.

The habitans recognized him at last, and a tremendous yell burst out.
"Long live the Golden Dog! Down with the Friponne!" while the more bold
ventured on the cry, "Down with the Intendant and the thieves of the
Grand Company!"

Fortunately for the troop of horsemen the habitans were utterly unarmed;
but stones began to be thrown, and efforts were made by them, not always
unsuccessfully, to pull the riders off of their horses. Poor Jean La
Marche's darling child, his favorite violin, was crushed at the first
charge. Jean rushed at the Intendant's bridle, and received a blow which
levelled him.

The Intendant and all the troop now drew their swords. A bloody
catastrophe seemed impending, when the Bourgeois Philibert, seeing the
state of affairs, despatched a messenger with tidings to the Castle of
St. Louis, and rushed himself into the street amidst the surging crowd,
imploring, threatening, and compelling them to give way.

He was soon recognized and cheered by the people; but even his influence
might have failed to calm the fiery passions excited by the Intendant's
violence, had not the drums of the approaching soldiery suddenly
resounded above the noise of the riot. In a few minutes long files of
glittering bayonets were seen streaming down the Rue du Fort. Colonel
St. Remi rode at their head, forming his troops in position to charge
the crowd. The colonel saw at once the state of affairs, and being a man
of judgment, commanded peace before resorting to force. He was at once
obeyed. The people stood still and in silence. They fell back
quietly before the troops. They had no purpose to resist the
authorities--indeed, had no purpose whatever. A way was made by the
soldiers, and the Intendant and his friends were extricated from their
danger.

They rode at once out of the mob amid a vol